Agents find 20 pounds of pot; Ocala man arrested

Published: Tuesday, December 24, 2013 at 11:57 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, December 24, 2013 at 2:52 p.m.

A 21-year-old Ocala man awaiting trial on multiple felony charges was arrested on new drug charges Monday after agents and Ocala police reported finding more than 20 pounds of marijuana in his possession.

Marcus Nathaniel Ewart was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and giving a false name to a law enforcement official, according to an Ocala Police Department report.

Shortly after 3:30 p.m. Monday, officers received a report about a man brandishing a gun during a dispute in a business parking lot on Northwest 10th Street. They got a description of the man and the vehicle.

Officer Lucas Esquivel saw a man fitting the description near the passenger side door of a Chevrolet Monte Carlo into an empty lot in the 1300 block of Northwest 12th Avenue.

Esquivel saw the man, later identified as Ewart, reach inside, shut the door and walk away from the car, according to the report. The officer approached Ewart and asked him for his name. At first, police said, Ewart gave a false name. He later told Esquivel his real name.

While talking with Ewart, the officer noticed a green leafy substance on Ewart's shirt and shorts. He called for backup.

When another officer arrived, Esquivel walked around the car looking for the gun.

The officers smelled marijuana and saw a large amount of the green leafy substance, a digital scale and a bag, according to the report.

A police dog alerted to drugs while sniffing the vehicle.

At OPD, members of the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team reported finding 23.2 pounds of marijuana in the car. Officials also seized than $600 from Ewart.

Court records show Ewart was adjudicated guilty in 2011 on charges of carrying a concealed weapon while under indictment and possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana.

He is awaiting trial — with jury selection on the docket for Jan. 13 — for nearly a dozen charges, including possession of marijuana with intent to sell and burglary. Ewart also has a pending case of home invasion robbery.

<p>A 21-year-old Ocala man awaiting trial on multiple felony charges was arrested on new drug charges Monday after agents and Ocala police reported finding more than 20 pounds of marijuana in his possession.</p><p>Marcus Nathaniel Ewart was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and giving a false name to a law enforcement official, according to an Ocala Police Department report.</p><p>Shortly after 3:30 p.m. Monday, officers received a report about a man brandishing a gun during a dispute in a business parking lot on Northwest 10th Street. They got a description of the man and the vehicle.</p><p>Officer Lucas Esquivel saw a man fitting the description near the passenger side door of a Chevrolet Monte Carlo into an empty lot in the 1300 block of Northwest 12th Avenue.</p><p>Esquivel saw the man, later identified as Ewart, reach inside, shut the door and walk away from the car, according to the report. The officer approached Ewart and asked him for his name. At first, police said, Ewart gave a false name. He later told Esquivel his real name.</p><p>While talking with Ewart, the officer noticed a green leafy substance on Ewart's shirt and shorts. He called for backup.</p><p>When another officer arrived, Esquivel walked around the car looking for the gun.</p><p>The officers smelled marijuana and saw a large amount of the green leafy substance, a digital scale and a bag, according to the report.</p><p>A police dog alerted to drugs while sniffing the vehicle.</p><p>At OPD, members of the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team reported finding 23.2 pounds of marijuana in the car. Officials also seized than $600 from Ewart.</p><p>Court records show Ewart was adjudicated guilty in 2011 on charges of carrying a concealed weapon while under indictment and possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana.</p><p>He is awaiting trial — with jury selection on the docket for Jan. 13 — for nearly a dozen charges, including possession of marijuana with intent to sell and burglary. Ewart also has a pending case of home invasion robbery.</p><p><i>Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com.</i></p>